Thursday, October 16, 2008

The New York Times (at least their blog), has dedicated a little space to a proposed last-minute debate among third-party candidates. While the article does little in terms of actual reporting (they confirmed McKinney "will also be there, according to her website," without actually lifting a phone to call the campaign), it does do a great deal of speculating.

One such assumption is that "Mr. Barr has made it clear that he will only debate Mr. Nader and no one else." This, in keeping with the journalistic standards of a common Internet blog, was not attributed to anyone, or even checked with the Barr campaign.

Incidentally, the Libertarian blog post does not link to said New York Times article. So much for attribution. But let's continue:

According to the blog entry itself, official invitations for the debate just went out this week — mere days before the event is to take place. Given that the proposed event is intended to take place less than 16 days before the election, it is a little absurd to assume that candidates, in the peak of a presidential campaign, have time to drop all pre-scheduled activities and run off to New York for a hastily planned event.

The Barr campaign, which has a very fast paced travel schedule, had already made campaign commitments in other parts of the nation that can't, and won't, be dropped for an event that another campaign put together at the last minute without prior coordination.

So, since the Libertarian Party blog post didn't bother to link to the New York Times blog post (oh, and the blog doesn't take comments either), I guess I'll have to hunt it up myself. Luckily, Third Party Watch linked to the New York Times post:

Free and Equal.Org, a group formed to encourage third-party candidacies, is promoting a debate at the Columbia Political Union at Columbia University in New York for all six candidates seeking the presidency....

Just exactly who will be there is still murky, since certified letters have just gone out to all candidates, say event organizers. Ralph Nader, who is on the ballot in 45 states as an independent candidate, has indicated he will show up. Cynthia McKinney, former member of Congress from Georgia and the Green Party candidate, will also be there, according to her website. Ms. McKinney is on the ballot in 30 states. Also invited is Chuck Baldwin, running on the Constitution Party ticket in 35 states....

The only question mark is Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party candidate. Mr. Barr has made it clear that he will only debate Mr. Nader and no one else.

Christina M. Tobin, an event organizer and a Nader campaign staffer, said that she “challenges” Mr. Barr to show up.

“Let him show that he is a true Libertarian,” said Ms. Tobin, who grew up in a prominent Libertarian family. “This is a golden opportunity to get exposure and for people to hear his views. For him not to show up would be denying his Libertarian principles.”

Ms. Tobin added that if this event, which will be held at 8 p.m. is successful, her group plans to hold another one a few days later.

Well, that didn't help. But if Free and Equal.org is a tool of the Nader campaign, then you'd expect that they'd be pushing the heck out of the October 19 debate. Check their events page...whoops, it's not there.

Maybe Nader won't show up. If they send a Chevy to pick him up, he'll probably decline.

The New York Times (at least their blog), has dedicated a little space to a proposed last-minute debate among third-party candidates. While the article does little in terms of actual reporting (they confirmed McKinney "will also be there, according to her website," without actually lifting a phone to call the campaign), it does do a great deal of speculating.

One such assumption is that "Mr. Barr has made it clear that he will only debate Mr. Nader and no one else." This, in keeping with the journalistic standards of a common Internet blog, was not attributed to anyone, or even checked with the Barr campaign.

Incidentally, the Libertarian blog post does not link to said New York Times article. So much for attribution. But let's continue:

According to the blog entry itself, official invitations for the debate just went out this week — mere days before the event is to take place. Given that the proposed event is intended to take place less than 16 days before the election, it is a little absurd to assume that candidates, in the peak of a presidential campaign, have time to drop all pre-scheduled activities and run off to New York for a hastily planned event.

The Barr campaign, which has a very fast paced travel schedule, had already made campaign commitments in other parts of the nation that can't, and won't, be dropped for an event that another campaign put together at the last minute without prior coordination.

So, since the Libertarian Party blog post didn't bother to link to the New York Times blog post (oh, and the blog doesn't take comments either), I guess I'll have to hunt it up myself. Luckily, Third Party Watch linked to the New York Times post:

Free and Equal.Org, a group formed to encourage third-party candidacies, is promoting a debate at the Columbia Political Union at Columbia University in New York for all six candidates seeking the presidency....

Just exactly who will be there is still murky, since certified letters have just gone out to all candidates, say event organizers. Ralph Nader, who is on the ballot in 45 states as an independent candidate, has indicated he will show up. Cynthia McKinney, former member of Congress from Georgia and the Green Party candidate, will also be there, according to her website. Ms. McKinney is on the ballot in 30 states. Also invited is Chuck Baldwin, running on the Constitution Party ticket in 35 states....

The only question mark is Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party candidate. Mr. Barr has made it clear that he will only debate Mr. Nader and no one else.

Christina M. Tobin, an event organizer and a Nader campaign staffer, said that she “challenges” Mr. Barr to show up.

“Let him show that he is a true Libertarian,” said Ms. Tobin, who grew up in a prominent Libertarian family. “This is a golden opportunity to get exposure and for people to hear his views. For him not to show up would be denying his Libertarian principles.”

Ms. Tobin added that if this event, which will be held at 8 p.m. is successful, her group plans to hold another one a few days later.

Well, that didn't help. But if Free and Equal.org is a tool of the Nader campaign, then you'd expect that they'd be pushing the heck out of the October 19 debate. Check their events page...whoops, it's not there.

Maybe Nader won't show up. If they send a Chevy to pick him up, he'll probably decline.